Chinese Society and ThoughtSocial Studies Chapter 11

Section 2The Teachings of Confucius

Anticipatory SetDuring the Era of Warring States, China was in a state of anarchy. The social order was collapsing.

Hanfeizi promoted a Legalistic solution.

Mo-zi suggested a government where everyone would work for the common good.

Confucius came up with a different solution.

StandardsH-SS 6.6.3 – Know about the life of Confucius and the fundamental teachings of Confucianism and Daoism

H-SS 6.6.4 – Identify the political and cultural problems prevalent in the time of Confucius and how he sought to solve them

The Big Idea

The ideas of Confucius greatly influenced Chinese society and government

Key Terms

Confucianism – teachings of Confucius

Filial piety – unending devotion of children, especially sons, to their parents and family

The “Traditional Values” Solution of Confucius

Confucius is known as the “First Teacher”

Though others came before him, he is honored above all others for his wisdom

The Early Life of Confucius Born in the small state of Lu in 551BC

Confucius lived about the same time as Buddha in India

Confucius came from a poor but respected family Received a good education

The Early Life of Confucius As a young man he took a job collecting

taxes from farmers for the ruler of Lu

Saw the problems of his time in person Laws were not enforced Dishonest officials took bribes, or illegal

payments to do favors for the rich Peasants starved while rulers taxed them

to pay for wars

The Early Life of Confucius

Confucius believed the cause of the anarchy was that the Chinese had turned away from the values and virtues of their ancestors

The Early Life of ConfuciusBelieved only a return to those

traditional values could bring order to China

Confucius made teaching the ways of the ancestors his life’s work

Teacher and Scholar To carry out his work, Confucius started

his own school Did not teach about religion, gods, or an

afterlife Goal was to instruct young men on how to

become junzi (true gentlemen)

Teachings were collected in a book called the Analects

Teacher and Scholar Confucius hoped to find a ruler who

would follow his teachings

Few rulers took his ideas seriously, and Confucius died thinking himself a failure

Did now know that his teachings would influence Chinese society and government up to present day

The Five Key Relationships

The heart of Confucianism lay in a vision of a stable society based on five relationships

The Five Key RelationshipsRuler - - Subject

Father - - SonHusband - - Wife

Older brother - - Younger brotherOlder friend - - Younger friend

The Five Key Relationships

Confucius taught that these five relationships should be the foundations of China’s social order

The Five Key Relationships In each relationship:

The superior/older person should respect respect and obedience from the junior person

The superior/older person should set a good example of proper behavior

If rulers/fathers set a bad example then it was their fault if their subjects/children also behaved badly

The Five Key RelationshipsEach relationship was based on

traditional virtues Ruler - - Subject: virtue for the

ruler was kindness to subject; for subjects it was loyalty to ruler

The Five Key Relationships

Most important virtue in Confucianism was filial piety

The Five Key Relationships

Confucius believed that establishing the proper relationship with one’s parents and other was of greater importance than getting a good education

The “Traditional Values” Solution of Confucius

Read The “Traditional Values” Solution of Confucius on pages 306

– 308 of your textbook

Guided PracticeThe teachings of Confucius are known as ________________.

There are ______________ key relationships in Confucianism.

The most important virtue in Confucianism was _________________ __________________.

Guided PracticeThe teachings of Confucius are known as Confucianism.

There are five key relationships in Confucianism.

The most important virtue in Confucianism was filial piety.

Independent Practice

Complete Chapter 11 Section 2 Independent Practice worksheet